1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

A wise son heeds his father’s instruction and correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

A good man eats good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

3 H e that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4 T he soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

The appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied.

5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

A righteous man hates lying and deceit, but a wicked man is loathsome and he comes to shame.

6 R ighteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Righteousness (rightness and justice in every area and relation) guards him who is upright in the way, but wickedness plunges into sin and overthrows the sinner.

7 T here is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

One man considers himself rich, yet has nothing; another man considers himself poor, yet has great riches.

8 T he ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

A rich man can buy his way out of threatened death by paying a ransom, but the poor man does not even have to listen to threats.

9 T he light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out shortly.

10 O nly by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

By pride and insolence comes only contention, but with the well-advised is skillful and godly Wisdom.

11 W ealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Wealth won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase.

12 H ope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

13 W hoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Whoever despises the word and counsel brings destruction upon himself, but he who fears and respects the commandment is rewarded.

14 T he law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

15 G ood understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard.

16 E very prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a fool exposes and flaunts his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador brings healing.

18 P overty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Poverty and shame come to him who refuses instruction and correction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.

19 T he desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Satisfied desire is sweet to a person; therefore it is hateful and exceedingly offensive to fools to give up evil.

20 H e that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

He who walks with wise men is wise, but he who associates with fools is shall smart for it.

21 E vil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

Evil pursues sinners, but the consistently upright and in right standing with God is recompensed with good.

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.

23 M uch food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

Much food is in the tilled land of the poor, but there are those who are destroyed because of injustice.

24 H e that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently and punishes him early.

25 T he righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

The righteous eats to his own satisfaction, but the stomach of the wicked is in want.